Category: Z-View

“Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane” (2007) / Z-View

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Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane (2007)

Director:  Scott Thomas

Screenplay: Scott Thomas, Mark Onspaugh, Sidney Iwanter

Stars:  David Chisum, Kristen Kerr, Kevin J. O’Connor, Richard Tyson, Todd Babcock, Derek Webster, Siena Goines, Mieko Hillman, Raymond J. Barry, Serah D’Laine, Brian Ames, Ashley Bashioum, Laura Cayouette, Dale Midkiff, Brian Thompson, Tucker Smallwood and Erick Avari.

Tagline:  If it’s in your blood, you’re just plane dead!

The Plot…

The Concorde is full of passengers flying from LA to Paris.  Also onboard in the cargo hold is an armed guard sitting by a refrigerated tank.  The scientists responsible for the experiment in the hold are topside.  These renegade researchers have created a virus that reanimates the dead.  Once revived the corpses are stronger, faster and more durable.  The idea was to create a super-soldier who could fight even after dead.  The scientists succeeded with one drawback.  Once the dead come back, they have an insatiable thirst for human blood.

What could go wrong.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane was originally titled Plane Dead.  Both aren’t bad titles considering the film.  I prefer the one they went with.

Flight of the Living Dead is a low budget fun ride that throws logic out the window (with some of the victims).  I’ve never seen so many people firing guns, setting off explosions and starting fires on a plane.  Also the air vents are large enough to easily crawl through.  Even the airplane bathroom ones.  If you’re willing to just sit back and go with the flow, Flight of the Living Dead might be for you.

Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane (2007) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Speak No Evil” (2024) starring James McAvoy / Z-View

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Speak No Evil (2024)

Director:  James Watkins

Screenplay: James Watkins; based on Speak No Evil by Christian Tafdrup and Mads Tafdrup

Stars: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Lefler and Dan Hough.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The Daltons, Louise, Ben and their daughter Agnes are on vacation in Italy.  The family has gone through a rough patch and needed a break.  While there they meet Paddy, Ciara and their son Ant.

Ant and Agnes are both pretty shy, so their parents are happy to see how well the kids get along.  Ben and Paddy really hit it off as well.  The families end up spending time together.  When vacations are over and everyone is to return home, Paddy invites the Dalton’s to come visit any time.

Back at home things aren’t improving for the Dalton’s.  So when they get a postcard invite from Paddy, they decide to take the offer.  Louise isn’t big on the idea, but agrees because Ben really wants to go.

At Paddy and Ciara’s house, Louise gets vibes that things aren’t right.  She feels uneasy but says nothing.  As the weekend progresses, Louise and Ben realize coming was a mistake.

But it is too late.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Based on the 2022 Danish film of the same name.

James McAvoy is perfect as the alpha male. Mackenzie Davis is believable as the mother who slowly realizes the danger that her family is in. When she turns into mama bear it works.  She’s tough but not a superhero. Dan Hough (in his feature film debut) more than holds his own.

Speak No Evil is a fun ride.

Speak No Evil (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Mask of Dimitrios” (1944) starring Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet and Zachary Scott / Z-View

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The Mask of Dimitrios (1944)

Director:  Jean Negulesco

Screenplay: Frank Gruber; based on THE MASK OF DIMITRIOS by Eric Ambler

Stars: Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, Zachary Scott, Steven Geray, Eduardo Ciannelli, Kurt Katch, John Abbott, Monte Blue, David Hoffman and Vince Barnett.

Tagline: Thrilling successor to “The Maltese Falcon”

The Plot…

Cornelius Leyden, a mystery writer, is spending a night in Istanbul.  Leyden meets Colonel Haki, a Turkish police offical.  Haki is a fan of Leyden’s books.  Haki shares the story of Dimitrios Makropoulos, a famous international criminal who was recently found murdered.  Leyden is intrigued.  Colonel Haki allows Leyden to see Makropoulos’ corpse.  Haki also gives Leyden background info on the dead man.

Leyden decides to interview those who knew Dimitrios Makropoulos and perhaps write a book about the criminal mastermind.  As Leyden digs deeper he learns just how cunning and brutal Dimitrios Makropoulos was.

Maybe cunning enough to fake his own death.  Maybe cunning enough to kill anyone looking into his life.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Peter Lorre had the most screen time of anyone in the film.  Yet, he was given fourth billing.  Lorre was listed behind Sydney Greenstreet, Zachary Scott (in his first feature film) and Faye Emmerson (who had a small role).  Lorre felt that his lowered status was because Jack L. Warner (one of the studio heads) was not a fan.

Orson Welles played Colonel Haki in Journey into Fear.

The Mask of Dimitrios (1944) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (2024) directed by Tim Burton, starring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe & Monica Bellucci / Z-View

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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Director:  Tim Burton

Screenplay: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar; story by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Seth Grahame-Smith based on characters by Michael McDowell, Larry Wilson

Stars: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, Arthur Conti, Santiago Cabrera, Burn Gorman  and Danny DeVito.

Tagline: The ghost with the most is back.

The Plot…

Thirtysix years ago Betelgeuse, a vulgar, prankster ghost attempted to marry a teenager named Lydia Deetz.  Although unsuccessful, Betelgeuse hasn’t given up.  Confined to the underworld, he still has hopes to escape.

Lydia and her mother struggle to have a healthy relationship.  Lydia and her daughter, Astrid, don’t get along much better.  Astrid doesn’t believe her mom can see ghosts.

When Lydia, her mother and Astrid return to Winter River for a funeral things take a turn.  Astrid accidentally frees Betelgeuse.  Now he can finally force marriage to Lydia.  Meanwhile Betelgeuse’s first wife has “pulled herself together” and has plans for Betelgeuse (and anyone who gets in her way).  And don’t get me started on Astrid’s problems.

The juice is loose indeed.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

While not as fun as the original, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is still a fun ride.  The film is best when Keaton is on screen cutting up.  Jenna Ortega is an excellent choice to play Winona Ryder’s daughter.

My favorite scene was the MacArthur Park wedding scene.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Carriers” (2009) starring Chris Pine, Piper Perabo, Lou Taylor Pucci and Emily VanCamp / Z-View

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Carriers (2009)

Director:  Àlex Pastor, David Pastor

Screenplay: Àlex Pastor, David Pastor

Stars: Chris Pine, Piper Perabo, Lou Taylor Pucci, Emily VanCamp, Kiernan Shipka, Mark Moses, Josh Berry, Tim D. Janis, Dylan Kenin and Christopher Meloni.

Tagline: The rules are simple. You break them, you die…

The Plot…

A highly contagious virus has wiped out most of the human race.  Brian, his girlfriend Bobby, along with his brother Danny and Danny’s friend Kate have joined for a trip.  They hope to make their way to a remote beach house that they know will be empty.  Once there the four plan to enjoy the beach and wait until the virus dies out.  Or a cure is found.

Getting there will be dangerous.  Breathing the air or contact with an infected person means sure death.  Uninfected  people are just as dangerous.  Food, water and gasoline is scare.

Not everyone will survive.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I liked that Carriers had a virus that didn’t turn people into zombies.  THAT was a different angle from most movies.

Carriers was filmed in 2006, but the studio held it from release.  Then when Chris Pine hit big with Star Trek, it was released.  Pine ended up getting top billing, even though Lou Taylor Pucci’s character was the first lead.

Christopher Meloni (who plays the father of an infected child) and Mark Moses (who plays a doctor who has lost all hope) have characters/scenes that will stay with you.

I saw Carriers when it was first released and again yesterday.  I liked it better the second time.  I wanted more action on my first viewing.  The second time, I realized that Carriers should be seen as more of a psychological thriller.

Carriers (2009) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Caddo Lake” (2024) written and directed by Celine Held & Logan George / Z-View

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Caddo Lake (2024)

Director:  Celine Held, Logan George

Screenplay: Celine Held, Logan George

Stars: Dylan O’Brien, Eliza Scanlen, Lauren Ambrose, Eric Lange, David Maldonado and Gina Limbrick.

Tagline: Find your way back.

The Plot…

Strange things happen at Caddo Lake.

When a woman has a seizure, she drives off the Caddo Lake bridge.  Her son Paris is able to free himself, but not his mother.  She dies.  Paris lives with guilt.

Ellie’s family lives on Caddo Lake.  Ellie never forgave her mother for remarrying after her dad disappeared. Although Ellie loves her stepsister, Anna, Ellie’s relationship with her mother and stepfather is strained at best.

When Anna disappears somewhere on Lake Caddo, the police form search parties.  Paris joins in. Ellie as well.

In a remote area of Lake Caddo, mysteries unravel.  Paris and Ellie will learn answers to questions that have haunted them for years.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Lake Caddo is a real lake in Texas.

I appreciate that Lake Cadado respects the audience’s intelligence.  It takes time building the story and this adds to the payoff.

Caddo Lake (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.

BLOOD GROVE: AN EASY RAWLINS MYSTERY by Walter Mosley / Z-View

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BLOOD GROVE by Walter Mosley

First sentence…

I looked down from the third-floor office window onto the hastily built greenhouse in our back-fence neighbor’s yard.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Easy Rawlins is at his desk when a man enters the small office.  Easy has seen the look of a shell-shocked soldier before.  He’s seeing it again.  The man’s name is Craig Kilian.  Kilian’s a white man who wants to hire Easy.  Even in 1969, that’s not an everyday occurrence.

Kilian wants Easy to find out if Kilian murdered a man.  He thinks he did.  Kilian and a beautiful woman were alone in a citrus grove when a stranger attacked.  Kilian thinks in the struggle he stabbed the man.  Killed him dead.  Yet when Kilian came to the woman was gone.  So was the man he stabbed.

Easy feels sorry for the battle fatigued vet so he takes the case.

As Easy follows the clues, it becomes a tangled mess involving missing money, a sociopathic killer, cops and grifters.

+++++

I’m a Walter Mosley fan.  His Easy Rawlins tales are the best.  BLOOD GROVE is no exception.  If you’ve followed Mr. Mosley’s career, you’ll enjoy appearances in this one by Mouse Alexander, Fearless Jones, Jackson Blue and Christmas Black.

Rating:

“Hurricane Heist” (2018) directed by Rob Cohen / Z-View

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Hurricane Heist (2018)

Director:  Rob Cohen

Screenplay: Scott Windhauser, Jeff Dixon; story by Anthony Fingleton, Carlos Davis

Stars: Toby Kebbell, Maggie Grace, Ryan Kwanten, Ralph Ineson, Jamie Andrew Cutler, Ed Birch, James Barriscale, Erik Rondell, Mark Rhino Smith, Brooke Johnston  and Ben Cross

Tagline: The storm of the century… the heist of a lifetime.

The Plot…

A well organized group of thieves plan to rob a Federal Reserve money shredding facility in the small town of Gulfport, Alabama.  The crooks are going to do so under the cover of a Category 5 Hurricane heading for the evacuated city.

Standing in their way are two individuals: Treasury agent Casey Corbyn (Grace) and a National Weather Service meteorologist named Will (Kebbell).  If the thieves don’t kill them, the hurricane might.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Hurricane Heist isn’t as bad as reviews might lead you to believe.  It has excellent effects/scenes/stunts, but they get crazier as the movie goes on.  Still, I enjoyed it.  As always, your mileage may vary.

Hurricane Heist (2018) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Legend of the Lost” (1957) starring John Wayne & Sophia Loren / Z-View

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Legend of the Lost (1957)

Director:  Henry Hathaway

Screenplay: Ben Hecht, Robert Presnell

Stars: John Wayne, Sophia Loren, Rossano Brazzi and Kurt Kasznar.

Tagline: Wayne Tangles with Loren…In the Adventure that’s Hotter than 1000 Suns!

The Plot…

Paul Bonnard comes to Timbuktu looking for a guide.  Bonnard’s father left him a map to a lost city full of gold and jewels.  Bonnard hires Joe January, an experienced guide.  The day before they are to leave, Bonnard meets Dita.  She’s beautiful, but is willing to steal or use her looks to make money from men.  Bonnard and Dita talk through the night.  The next day she asks to go with Bonnard and Joe.  Both men refuse to take her. The trip is much too dangerous.

Dita finds a way to join Bonnard and Joe.  Once she is discovered they are too far into the desert to take her back.  There’s no denying the attraction between Joe and Dita.  This coupled with low rations and even less water will lead to dangers no one saw coming.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

When director Henry Hathaway was asked why John Wayne’s character dresses like a cowboy, Hathaway replied John Wayne’s characters always dress like cowboys.

Legend of the Lost (1957) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey” (2024) / Z-View

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Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey (2024)

Director:  Joe Berlinger (Eps. 1-3)

Tagline:  None.

The Plot…

In a crime that rocked the nation, six year old JonBenet Ramsey was reported as kidnapped.  The kidnappers left a long ransom note (reported as looking like mom’s writing; written on mom’s writing pad) asking for $188,000 in exchange for the safe return of JonBenet.  ($118,000 is the amount that dad received as a Christmas bonus and is an odd amount to request at any rate.)

The police came.  So did family friends who received word of the kidnapping.  The police allowed everyone in the house.  An officer suggested that dad check the house again.  Dad found JonBenet bound with her mouth tapped on the floor in a downstairs play room.  Dad took the tape off her mouth and brought her upstairs.

The case made national news.  Speculation ran wild.  The parents and JonBenet’s nine year old brother became the main suspects.  The parents reported behaviors seemed suspicious.  A grand jury was paneled.  No one was ever charged.

This documentary explores the mistakes the police made, the evidence that was withheld and the push to make JonBenet’s parents the main suspects.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

It’s a shame how the reporters were not given the full facts of the case.  The only reason that occurred was to put pressure on JonBenet’s parents.  Much was made of the ransom note (and it still needs to be explained) but handwriting experts said it was NOT her mother’s writing.  That was never to my knowledge reported.  Much was also made about there being no footprints in the snow near the broken window that the killer supposedly used.  While there was some snow in the front of the house, there was no snow on the ground near the window side.  So of course there were no footprints in the snow.  There were many things like this that is pointed out in the documentary.

We also learn of several child molesters that were considered suspects.  One even had repeated phone calls admitting to killing JonBenet.

This documentary is an eye-opener.  Not into who actually did the killing, but how the public’s perception of the killing was manipulated.

I hope someday we do learn the truth and the killer is brought to justice.

Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Testament of Dr. Mabuse” (1933) directed by Fritz Lang / Z-View

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The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933)

Director:  Fritz Lang

Screenplay: Thea von Harbou, Fritz Lang

Stars: Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Otto Wernicke, Oscar Beregi Sr., Gustav Diessl

Tagline: Fritz Lang’s masterpiece. The most tremendous film of the present.

The Plot…

Hofmeister, a disgraced ex-police detective, uncovers an underworld criminal organization.  Barely escaping with his life, Hofmeister calls police Inspector Karl Lohmann.  As Hofmesiter lays out what he’s discovered, the connection is cut.  When Hofmeister is found, he’s gone insane.

Inspector Lohmann finds clues indicating that Dr. Mabuse is the mastermind behind the underworld criminals discovered by Hofmeister.  Lohmann is puzzled to learn that Dr. Mabuse went mad ten years prior.  He’s been housed at Professor Baum’s asylum.  Dr. Mabuse, locked in his cell with no outside contact, spends his days writing comprehensive plans for heists.  Mabuse’s cell is full of them.  Making things even stranger, since no one has access to these plans, is that they’re being used to commit crimes.

How can that be?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Nazis banned showing of The Testament of Dr. Mabuse because it might “incite people to anti-social behavior and terrorism against the State”.

Director Fritz Lang said that he was called to a meeting with Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda for the Nazi Party.  Goebbels said that he and Adolph Hitler were fans of Fritz’s earlier movies but his latest films (M and The Testament of Dr. Mabuse) could be interpreted as against the Nazi Party.  Goebbels then offered Lang the opportunity to direct films for the Nazis.  Lang said he would consider the offer.  He left Germany not long after this meeting.

Fritz is a master a direction, use of sound (talkies were still relatively new) and tension building scenes.

The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“The Phantom Carriage” (1921) screenplay, directed by and starring Victor Sjöström / Z-View

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The Phantom Carriage (1921)

Director:  Victor Sjöström

Screenplay: Victor Sjöström; based on Körkarlen by Selma Lagerlöf

Stars: Victor Sjöström, Hilda Borgström, Tore Svennberg

Tagline: Do the Dead Come Back? Can Your Soul Leave Your Body – And Return Again? Is Spiritualism a Reality?

The Plot…

Three drunkards are in a graveyard on New Year’s Eve.  One of the boozers, David, explains the legend that the last sinner to die each year is doomed.  This unfortunate must spend the next year driving Death’s carriage to collect the souls of the dead.  As the clock nears midnight David gets hit on the head with a bottle.  He falls to the ground.  It appears that David’s soul is seen leaving his body.

A carriage approaches…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Charlie Chaplin said The Phantom Carriage was the best film ever made.

The special effects for this 1921 film were done mainly through double (or more) film exposures.  Filming took place from May to July 1920.  Post-production work took five months!

The Phantom Carriage (1921) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Red 11” (2019) / Z-View

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Red 11 (2019)

Director:  Robert Rodriguez

Screenplay: Robert Rodriguez, Racer Rodriguez; inspired by REBEL WITHOUT A CREW by Robert Rodriguez

Stars: Roby Attal, Lauren Hatfield

Tagline:  THE NEW $7,000.00 FILM FROM ROBERT RODRIGUEZ.

The Plot…

John owes bad people $7,000.00.  If they don’t get paid, John will get killed.  In order to get the money quickly John joins a clinical study that uses experimental drugs and treatments.  Once locked in the treatment center, John discovers he may be in more danger there.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Robert Rodriguez made his first film El Mariachi for $7,000.00.  He raised the money, in part, by taking part in medical studies.  Rodriguez was inspired by his experiences to come up with this film.  He also wanted to see if it was possible to make the film for $7,000.00.  It was.  Sadly, we didn’t get anything close to a movie as good as El Mariachi.

I’m a Robert Rodriguez fan.  Red 11 just didn’t resonate with me.  The movie is less than 90 minutes long.  I stuck it out for a bit over 50 minutes before tapping out.  Your mileage may vary.

Red 11 (2019) rates 1 of 5 stars.

“5 Steps to Danger” (1957) starring Ruth Roman & Sterling Hayden / Z-View

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5 Steps to Danger (1957)

Director:  Henry S. Kesler

Screenplay: Henry S. Kesler; story by Donald Hamilton, Turnley Walker; based on The Steel Mirror by Donald Hamilton

Stars: Ruth Roman, Sterling Hayden, Werner Klemperer, Richard Gaines, Peter Hansen, John Mitchum, Leonard Bremen, Sidney Clute and Ken Curtis.

Tagline:  First she lured him into her car … then she let him taste her lips … and then … THE TERROR BEGAN !

The Plot…

John Emmett has just learned that his car is beyond repair.  John sells it to the mechanic and asks about the nearest bus station.  Ann Nicholson overheard John’s problem and offers him a ride.  She’s driving to Santa Fe.  Ann suggests John ride with her.  They can split the drive time and motor straight through the night.  John agrees.

When they stop for gas, a woman, claiming to be a nurse approaches John.  The woman says that Ann has mental issues. The woman claims Ann is a patient of Dr. Frederick Simmons.  John isn’t sure what to believe and says nothing to Ann.

Later, Ann and John are pulled over by two cops.  They begin to question Ann about a murder in Los Angeles.  She argues with a cop and in the struggle the policeman is knocked down the embankment.  The other cop handcuffs Ann to John.  The cop and John struggle and John knocks him down the hill.  Ann and John take off.

On the run from the police, Ann tells John that she accidentally discovered a foreign government’s plot against the US.  Ann says that she has important scientific information that she must get to trusted authorities.  John is unsure if Ann is mentally unstable, a murderess or a patriot on the run.

One thing John does know, is that he’s now a wanted man.  His life may depend on unraveling the mystery that is Ann Nicholson.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Wilder’s Garage in the opening scene was named that as a nod to Billy Wilder who opened Ace in the Hole with a similar scene.

Werner Klemperer went on to fame as Colonel Klink on Hogan’s Heroes.  FBI Agent Jim Anderson is played (uncredited) by Ken Curtis who became famous as Festus on Gunsmoke.

5 Steps to Danger (1957) rates 2 of 5 stars.

REVELATION by Robert Knott / Z-View

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REVELATION by Robert Knott

First sentence…

Augustus Noble Driggs was lying inside the small stone room on a bunk, thinking about Jesus and whatnot.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

US Marshall Virgil Cole and Deputy Everette Hitch receive word that several convicts have escaped prison. Worse still, they have taken the warden’s wife with them.  One of the escapees is none other than Augustus Noble Driggs.  Driggs is “square-jawed, handsome, and built like a muscled thoroughbred stallion.”  He’s well educated, resourceful and a West Point graduate.  Driggs is accurate with both pistol and long rifle.  Smart, physically fit and capable.  Driggs is a stone cold killer and dangerous adversary.

Virgil and Everette ride out to track down Driggs and the convicts.  Little do they know that an equal danger is brewing in Appaloosa.

+++++

Robert Knott does Robert B. Parker proud with another Virgil and Everett yarn.

Rating: